Track-adjusting means for trench diggers and similar machines



June 15, 1954 J. KONDRACKI 2,681,

TRACK-ADJUSTING MEANS FOR TRENCH DIGGERS AND SIMILAR MACHINES Filed Apfil 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Shet l INVENTOR.

June 15,- 1954 DIGGERS AND SIMILAR MACHINES Filed April 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 air} INVENTOR. cisqoiz/tf anrlr trench or ditch been applied;

Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES TRACK-ADJUSTING MEANS FOR TRENCH DIGGERS AND SIMILAR MACHINES Joseph Kondracki, Chester, N. Y.

Application April 16, 1952,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to trench or ditch-digtion the same farther apart, as required by certain ditch-digging or other excavating operations.

Under certain Working conditions, and particularly when working in soft or and cause the machine to sink into the ditch. There are numerous other occasions when unmeans by which the tracks may be closely spaced when necessary and more widely spaced apart when a particular use requires it.

With these objects, and other objects to be and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the portions of a digger to which the invention has Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the track portion of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction "of the arrows;

Serial No. 282,727

not shown. As

may be usefully appliedto many other types of digging or other machines in which treads or tracks are employed. a I

In the drawings a portion of the main or central frame of the machine is shown at l, and the tracks, or so-called crawlers of the machine are shown respectively at 3 and 4. Each of the tracks is supported by a frame 5 having bearings support of the upper stretch of the tread or track. The lower rollers a are operative against the a lower stretch of the tread or track. At one end of the tread-supporting frame 5 is a drive sprocket 9 for the tread, said sprocket being carried on a shaft Hi carrying a universal joint H. Extending from the universal joint H is an inner shaft [2 provided with a keyway l3. This inner shaft is telescopically adjustable within an outer tubular shaft It connected toa universal joint i5, secured on a shaft l1, rotative in bearings 20 in the main frame I, and carrying a sprocket I8. A chain I 9 engages the sprocket l8, said chain being driven from the motor of the machine, will be apparent from Fig. l, the drive arrangement just described is located at both sides of the frame of the machine so that both tracks or treads of the machine are driven accordingly.

Each of the treads or tracks 3 and d extends over an idler sprocket 2| at the opposite endiof the machine, which sprocket 2| is on a shaft 22 rotative in the bearing 23 on the supporting frame for the tread or track. Aside from the telescopic adjustment of the parts [2 and M of the drive shaft, the elements thus far described are found in machines of this kind and are not new as far as the present invention is concerned.

Fixedly secured in the main frame l of the machine are spaced outer axle-sections indicated respectively at 24 and 25. These axle sections, and the parts associated with each of them are similar in construction so that a description of one will suffice. Each of the axle sections 2-1 and 25 is tubular and in the form shown are substantially square in cross sectional shape, although the same might be made in other shapes. At its end, each outer axle section is reinforced by a sleeve 26 over which is fitted a boss 2? forn ed with a radially-extending flange 28. This arrangement provides exceptional strength and rigidity at the end of the outer axle section. Secured to the flange 28 by the bolts 29 is a channel-shaped connection member 30 which has a three-sided flange 3| (Fig. 6) embracing three sides of a hollow inner axle section 32.

The outer end of the inner axle section 32 is fastened in brackets or similar supports it on the tread-supporting frame 5 and on which bearings 34 for the rollers 5 and I are mounted. The axle section 32 is thus secured at one end to the tread or track support 5, and is of a shape to fit within the outer axle section 24 or 25 and be telescopically adjustable therein. 'It will be apparent that by such telescopic adjustment of the two axle parts 32 and 24, or 32 and 25, the effective length of the two fixed axles of the machine can be regulated and thus the distance between the treads or tracks of the machine arranged. To maintain the telescopic parts 32 and 2 or 32 and 25 in their desired selected telescopic relationship, the inner axle section 32 is provided with a plurality of spaced, threaded holes as and by aligning the required holes 35 with similar holes provided in the three-sided part 31 of the connection member 33, screws 36 can be threaded through the aligned holes and the axle sections thus rigidly connected-together in any desired position of overlap and the effective length of each axle regulated.

It will be understood that both ends of the outer axle sections 24 and 25 are connected to axle sections 32, and thus both tracks may be brought toward or away from one 'anotherrto thereby position them at the required distances apart.

A means for adjustably moving the tracks toward the main frame I is required, and for this purpose is shown the adjusting shafts M5 and M, both of which operate similarly. At one end, each of the shafts it and Al extends through a bearing bracket G2 secured on the frame member 5 and to prevent endwise displacement of the shaft out of the bracket, a sleeve 63 is secured on the shaft within the bracket. The opposite end of the shaft ll extends into a hydraulic cylinder 44, and carries a piston 415 which is caused to be urged in one direction by the flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure through the inlet pipe 4B.

Thepiston 43 is moved in the opposite direction by the flow through the inlet pipe ll. Both pipes 45 and 4'! are, of course, connected to a suitable source of hydraulic fluid supply. ihe cylinders 44 are mounted in the main frame of the machine in any suitable manner and are rigidly supported and braced by the frame elements 48 and 49, or otherwise securely mounted.

From the foregoing, the operation of the improved track-adjusting device will be readily understood.

When it is desired to bring one or both of the tracks or treads of the machine nearer to the main or central frame I, or to move the track or tracks apart or farther away from the main frame, one side of the machine, including the track to be first adjusted, is elevated or jacked up, for which purpose either a manually or hydrauli'cally-operated jack may be employed. 7

When the side of the machine carrying the track to be adjusted is elevated off the ground, the fastening screws 36 are removed at the ends of the two axle sections at the elevated side of the machine, thus placing the inner axle sections 32 in condition to be moved telescopically with relation to the outer axle sections 24 or 25 within which they fit. The required adjusting shaft 40 or M is then caused to be moved longitudinally by the hydraulic means described and this will bring the track to which the shaft 40 or 4| is connected toward or away from the main frame l to the required extent. The required holes 35 in the inner axle section 32 are then aligned with the holes in the part 3| and the screws 36 replaced and the adjustment for one track is completed. It will be apparent that since the drive shaft parts l2 and i3 are telescopic, the effective length of the drive shaft, composed in part of these two elements, will be automatically regulated as the track is adjusted to or from the main frame 4. After one of the tracks has been adjusted as above described, it is lowered to the ground and the other track is then jacked up and the procedure of adjusting the same is carried out as described with respect to the first track.

In describing the means for adjusting the tracks, reference has been made to the employment of hydraulically-operated means for that purpose. However, if desired, the adjusting shafts as and ll might be arranged for longitudinal adjustment by manual means. In this connection, attention is directed to Fig. '7, wherein is shown an adjusting shaft 5% which is screwthreadecl for a substantial portion of its length, indicated at til, which threaded portion is adapted for threadable engagement with a block 52 suitably mounted in the frame i. Near the outer end, the shaft 58 is provided with the collar or sleeve rotative in the bearing 42. The end of the shaft 5-?! projects beyond the bearing 42 and is square or non-round in shape, as indicated at 53, to receive a ratchet wrench or other suitable tool by which the shaft may be manually rotated. It will be apparent that by rotation of the shaft 59, it will be caused to be moved longitudinally in the required direction and thus will bring oneof the tracks toward or away from the center or main frame l of the machine as required.

The advantage of being able to adjust the tracks or treads of the machine, and thus locate them at the desired distance apart, will be seen from Fig. 6, wherein the machine is shown at H operating over a ditch 55., With the tracks '3 and 4 in their normally-spaced position, and as a result so close to the edges of the ditch that the possibility of the machine being deposited in the ditch is imminent. When the tracks are spaced more widely apart, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6, it will be apparent that the tracks will 'then be supported on more solid ground with a that is attained by the structure described.

While I have described one embodiment of the invention in which the track-adjusting means has been applied to a certain type of ditch-digger, it will be apparent that. the application of the invention need not necessarily be limited to this specific type of machine, since it can be readily applied to other machines where the inner axle necessity exists for positioning the tracks or plurality of as meaning any other type of machine to which 4. In a trench di the invention is applicable and can be usefully a track support employed.

While I have described the drive shaft as inand projecting lat cludingthe telescopic parts l2 and I4, it may be 1 support having a pointed out that this shaft need not be adjusttelescopic adjust versal joints, according to the spacing of the With respect to track from the main frame. These and other being located be modifications are contemplated as being within an adjusting sh the scope of the claims appended hereto. means on the ir What I claim is: threaded portio 1. In a trench digger or like machine, a frame, on the track s not longitudinally movable relative thereto, and on the track means independent of the axle parts by which consists of a b said shaft is longitudinally moved to bring the the adjusting a threadable engagement between the frame and ing shaft bein adjustable shaft, said shaft having a projecting 6. A trench end located at the outside of the track for tool chine comprisi engagement to cause rotative movement of said opposite sides of th shaft. members secured t 2. In a trench digger or like machine, a frame, the frame, suppo a track support, an endless track carried by said extensions on sai relation. said inner axl track support, and means operative at the outside of the tracks for shifting said shaft longitudinally to thereby move the track support to or from the frame.

Keferenoes Cited in the file of thi patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re.21,106 Schauer May 30, 1939 1,203,853 Contal Nov. '7, 1916 1,319,235 Messersmith Oct. 21, 1919 1,374,412 Waterman Apr. 12, 1921 10 Number 'Name Date Brandt et' a1. Feb. 2'1, 1923 Sembera Apr. 23, 1929 Reid May 11, 1943 Howell June 1, 1943 Davidson Oct. 29, 1946 Johnson Dec. 31, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Feb. 10, 1933 

